Towards Redemption

And so she did die.

"Stucked in the astral world for redemption."

What looked like another world was just the afterlife.

"Stucked. Astral World. Redemption."

It's strange how she already accepted that fact. But, why redemption of all things?

"Stacastralwoldredemsion."

Was her mere existence a grave sin?

"Stacastalwolremsio."

The words seemed to spiral in Kichi's head, making the world blurry in her eyes. The background noise gradually turn muffled, her consciousness barely there— she was disassociating again—

Someone tapped her by the shoulder, the sudden sensation snapping her back to reality. She looked beside her and only saw Kam, whose gaze was focused elsewhere.

Sue was still explaining, gaze at the sky (probably avoiding hers). She didn't notice Kichi's episode. "I'm sure you're still confused right now, but it's alright," she resumed, gaining back her rather suffocating cheer, "I'll tell you everything you need to know about this world!"

Kichi nervously wringed her hands. "Uhm, is it fine? I mean, there might be a chance those people..." She eyed the restrained witch sisters uncertainly. "Get away again..."

Besides, she doesn't want to get involved with these two. Who knew if she accidentally did something again? Strike these poor, unsuspecting people with her stupid curse thing? She already had too much burden in the past, tired of it even, and she didn't want it to happen, be it in "another world."

Sue, meanwhile, did her best to reassure Kichi. "Don't sweat it! You'll be fine now, alright?" She turned to Kam for help. "Wanna come along? We can show her around."

Kam gave her a small smile, which Kichi noticed was a bit too stiff. "I suppose. We're done here anyway," he shrugged.

Kichi barely resisted a sigh. This situation was getting more embarrassing. She knew she'd get to have another volume of experiences worth cringing about during midnights, sweating in recollection. She already did expected it, just not that soon.

"Ah, we forgot to do our introductions!" the blue-haired girl gasped. She striked a pose, beaming. "Alright, the name's Hiraku Sue! A water maiden so beautiful, even mountains bow down in respect! Just call me, Sue!"

Kichi wondered, if she was to introduce herself likewise, perhaps it would be, "a person comparable to a knock-off brand soap washed down the toilet, even dirt wouldn't want her. Call her trash can!"

She shook her head mentally at the degrading thought.

"Just like what you saw earlier, I have the power to manipulate water, depending on its range and strength of course." Sue grinned bit too impishly over an otherwise graceful face. If Kichi was a guy, there'll be no doubt she'd fall instantly.

Argh, the strain of embarrassing thoughts and memories. At the mere recollection, she cringed at what happened earlier with the water thing. But at at least the only witness was unconscious now.

...Wait, but how does these powers even work if this is the afterlife? Is the astral world just a world for dead spirits or—?

The young man, Kam, waved for her attention, shaking her again out of her reverie. "I am Hiroto Kamuke. I apologize in advance if Sue does anything weird."

"Hey!"

"Anyway, I have the ability to create portals. Although it had quite a few limitations as well." He reached his hand over to Kichi, who reluctantly shook his hand. It felt oddly warm in this cold world.

"Portal? Then that means..." Kichi's eyes widened at the realization. That weird shiny thing from earlier, appearing besides the witch, was actually a portal? She thought it was from the water blast itself, or that it was some sort of portable projection or something. A water attack and portal combo, that's honestly amazing...

"Indeed. We couldn't reach in time as Sue fell on a creek, so we decided to use that method."

Sue pouted. "You don't have to mention that part."

"Works like a charm every time," Kam continued, ignoring her, "I apologize if it did surprise you though. How about you?"

"Huh?" Kichi said dumbly.

Sue lightly giggled. "He meant what's your name?"

"Oh, uhm." Fudge. This shall be where everything goes downhill!

Introduction speeches. The strain of nervousness withholding certain students with social issues to deliver one without stuttering and looking like an idiot. Kichi had a hunch if it's some sort of a secret ritual for bullies to pick their targets at the first day of school.

Questions like; introduce yourself, what's your hobby, what do you expect in this school year. It felt like you're revealing a part of your soul, baring it into the whole class to ruthlessly devour and drag its carcass into the deepest depths of the earth. It certainly isn't a pleasant experience.

"I'm Ki— Arinaki Kichi. Uhm, I'm a student, no I was, at New Cianview Academy and uh... wait, I'm in Japan, too. Kyoto. And uh, I like to eat—" Fierce coughing ensued. "Nicetomeetyoupleasetakecareofme!"

Good grief. Kichi would willingly let someone stab her this instant.

Thankfully, Sue and Kam weren't the type to laugh at horrid introductions, the former being more interested with her name. "Whoa, Kichi! That's an adorable name— it meant luck isn't it?"

Kichi never felt lucky at all, ironically.

"I heard New Cianview's popular for sports stuff," Sue rambled on, "it's nice to meet another student from there!"

Another?

Kam tilted his head, smiling in the same too-stiff manner Kichi noticed. "Nice to meet you too. How about we take this conversation somewhere else? It would seem like this place is... inappropriate to discuss such matters."

The three of them looked at the uniformed men carrying the restrained criminals on what looked like a stretcher, only with their hands tied in shiny black handcuffs. One witch sister was murmuring something gibberish, to which a worker put on a towel on her mouth.

"Yeah... we should."

・・・━━━ ⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━・・・

Kichi had no idea where they're going.

She was lead outside the train station, the moonlight beaming down their faces. When she looked around, that's when she started noticing strange things.

The Astral World seemed to be surrounded by dense trees, all in colors of midnight black, violet, and dark blue.

The sky wasn't black, but rather, an ethereal purplish hue with the occasional hazy pink. Soft smudges of light blue illuminated the very middle of the sky, highlighting the stars that seem to glow more brightly than it did on Earth. The moon above was as giant as a sun would be, glowing in a heavenly silver as it worked to reach its peak. No wonder everything was bright even during nighttime.

Kichi wondered if the sun even existed here in the afterlife.

She, along with her amiable escorts, walked through the weathered path outlining towards what looked like a wide plaza. Purple and midnight-colored trees stood beside their trail like silent sentries, the same dense forestry that surrounded the Astral World.

As they walked on, Sue started with her explanation, "Anyways, since you're new here, let's start with the basics. This is the Astral World!" She gestured all around with the enthusiastic waving of both arms. "I don't know if you've heard it before, but it's basically the middle layer of the living and the dead. Purgatory. Unlike heaven and hell, this is a place made for lost souls like us. whatever spiritual entity you are, everyone is accepted here!"

"Although she mentioned 'everyone' doesn't mean everyone can," Kam picked on, "The Astral World isn't solely restricted for dead people. There'd been old legends of spirits since the start of the civilization, and this is their usual haunt. Like Yokai, or angels, or even demons. That's because some spirits doesn't necessarily have to possess physical bodies, as their consciousness is fit enough to pass through the veil of the Astral World."

Angels? Demons?!

"But most of the time, souls like us who are too good for hell and too bad for heaven are stuck here until we finished our redemption," added Sue.

"But how was I..." Kichi trailed off. Her being dead and still being here must be a mistake. She couldn't have been too good for hell— she had caused several catastrophe to all around her while being a helpless bystander through it all. How could that be not bad?

She doesn't feel like she deserved to be here at all.

"...How was I decided to be put here?" Kichi finished, though the complete thought was lost in her tongue.

She meant that it felt wrong. She never did anything good all her life, so why did God even bring her here? What was the point? Is the afterlife something to make her feel comfortable with her existence until everything falls apart again? God must be mocking me...

Albeit oblivious to her inner turmoil, Sue gave her a reassuring smile. "Who knows, maybe you still have things to do? Things you wanted and needed?" she asked, "we're all born with dreams and desires after all."

Kichi only stared at her, feeling her chest constricting at the thought. What's left of her long-forgotten dreams and casted away desires? For now, she just wanted, no, needed to feel okay. She could only hope the afterlife is gentler.

Though reluctantly, she returned Sue's smile.

They finally reached their destination, and Kichi realized how everything just felt so immaculate.

From each corner of the plaza were flowerbeds blooming from their rectangular cases, alongside bushes and saplings of unnatural yet complementary color. Nightlights were spread evenly in measured distances, its burning fragrant oil permeating within. Besides the incense were a menagerie of smells drifting on the nightly breeze. Kichi inhaled hints of mints as they passed through the trails of rowed plants. it oddly felt pleasant and healing.

From the distance were class houses and structures in either paths that lead away from the plaza, lined with purple trees and hedgerows. They can make out several white-clothed people strolling and conversing amiably. There are some others with unnatural ears and tails, some even with wings, either admiring the plants on the flowerbeds or eating it. Mythical spirits and creatures, huh...

"Astral World isn't just limited to dead souls and full spirits, you know?" Kam spoke out from beside Kichi. She looked at him with a questioning gaze, which prompted him to add, "You see... there's this veil in every dimensions. The heaven, living, purgatory and hell. It's light and practically invisible to us, but it acts like a separation filter for every beingskind.

"You may describe it as a door that anyone is allowed to enter, but only those with a key can pass through. In some cases, there are several living people who can access through the plane. Namely the process of "astral projection" where a living person's soul can enter this realm."

Nodding in feigned understanding, Kichi slowly averted her eyes away awkwardly. That was a whole lore comparable to a certain videogame about a pizzeria. Then again, this is an entirely different world... she should've expected the infodump.

Someone placed their hands on her shoulder, causing her to jump. When she frantically turned around, Sue was there beaming at her. "Oh and also! We're all here, lost souls, for a reason— redemption! But in cases where we don't act appropriately, we may be sentenced into several punishments."

Kichi swallowed nervously at her implication.

"Though it really depends on behavior... Let's say you didn't do anything, then you'll spend an eternity of the astral world unless you start working! Or if you decided to put yourself in villainy, after some point, you might actually be brought to hell. On the other hand, if you lived a good life here and helped a number of souls ascend to their true afterlife— heaven— you can get there as well in no time! Amazing, isn't it?"

Kichi let out a shaky laugh. No, she doesn't feel amazed at all.

A thought crossed her. "Wait, then about SCO uh..."

"Ah, SCOD9012," Kam was the one to speak out, "it's the name of the astral plane— even if it seemed more of a train rather than a plane— that you entered through from the living and into the astral world. There's a lot of stations around, with different codes to depict your cause of death. And since you're from SCOD9012... we assumed you died by... suicide."

Kichi stared into the distance. She still somehow remembered the last moments of her life; the building, the feeling of being empty yet featherlight. Though for some reason she can't remember the impact of the pain. Perhaps that's for the better, she wouldn't want to recall how her body smashed into the hard asphalt after all.

"I apologize— mentioning it is uncouth," Kam said, earning him a look of suprise from Kichi, "you may want to stop talking about the past, so please do tell us so we can keep it in mind."

Frantically, Kichi awkwardly tried to stop Kam from bowing. "N-no it's fine! I just... don't want to remember any of what happened before... if that's alright to you both." Actually, she thought, it'd be better if you don't mention anything at all.

"No more backstory telling, roger!" Sue smiled, before bringing forth a hand to pat Kichi on her head. The one on the receiving end immediately flinched and evaded the second time.

"S—Sorry!" Kichi blurted out.

Sue just laughed good-naturedly. Good grief. Another memory onto her cringe archive...

"So... if this is the Astral World then why do you have, uh, those?" Kichi asked, if only to shift the conversation. She gestured vaguely about Sue's water summoning and Kam's portal with her hands.

"Those?" repeated Sue, confused.

"You mean our Mekushi?" supplied Kam, "our, ah, powers?"

Kichi nodded. How come are there even normal souls harboring supernatural powers? The thought baffled her. She really thought this was a fantasy world.

"It's a borrowed ability," Kam explained, "in all honesty, we're not privy with all the mechanics of the Astral World. But we've been previously informed it's got something to do with our past lives' affinities overflowing through the afterlife. Are you familiar with quantum mechanics?"

Kichi stared at him dumbly.

Sue nodded empathetically. "I know, I understand."

Kam sighed. "The shortest explanation here is the workings of mysticism. Since we're born, we harbor unique energies in varying flows of positive and negative. When we die, this energy expires and converts into abyssal energy to be carried with the soul, and apparently having too much gives off reflections of our strongest affinity and desires.

"But gaining a Mekushi... Well, I can't say we all have the same chances. Only few mortal souls ever attain such. Those who have them, though, immediately gets recruited to the agency."

"Agency?" Kichi echoed.

Sue grinned at her. "Someone ought to restore order everywhere, don't you think?" She veered her gaze ahead and let out a satisfied exhale. "Oh, here it is."

Kichi's eyes widened. In front of them stood a huge, dull-shaded blue building. Its exterior boasted silvery outlines engraved with a peculiar symbolic sign, an impressive golden-brown archway, and several flags of different patterns hanging from the highest window. It beheld a sense of significance and authority amidst the evergreens (or more like, everviolets) beside it.

Overall, it's like what they call as the adventurer's guild in some of the anime Kichi watched, with a modern spin of classy coats of paint.

"Of course, dead or alive, we still can't escape our responsibilities. And so this is where we work!" Sue emphasized the last word with flourish— a rather loud one at that. Passersby stopped and stared.

Kam grimaced. "You don't have to be so loud..."

Meanwhile, Kichi stared stupefied at the tall building. Then to both of her companions who were assuring the spirits passersby to quieten themselves. These two saying they belong in an agency this big must mean they're the real deal... Kichi thought, I should be more wary of how I treat them... I might even get chucked in their dungeons next week.

She shuddered at the thought.

Eventually, Kam reached for the large, navy double-doors to push through their handles. It opened with a creak as warm air hit their face. Ahead of them were magnolia walls, highly polished tiled floor and a wide hall with a lot of spirits residing within.

Kam and Sue entered inside the hall and waved over to the others in greeting. Some stared at Kichi curiously, making her shrink behind Sue's back.

Thankfully, Kam was quick to notice her discomfort. "Apologies. we're in much hurry," he said to the rest of the spirits, smiling cordially, before dragging his companions towards a hallway leading to several rooms and stairs.

Kichi allowed her gaze to wander around the posters decorating the creamy walls. Some of it were strangely motivational, but the rest were utterly morbid. She grimaced at one that said, "Don't lose your valuable limbs in places unattended."

"The agency is made to protect the citizens of the Astral World," explained Kam, noticing her attention on the posters, "Sue did mention that most of us here were half good and bad, but there's still quite a lot that leans on the bad, and it's our duty to seize them immediately. Though most of the time we aren't catching evil spirits, sometimes we're tasked to do glorified community services."

Kichi stared at him incredulously. Community service in the afterlife? A lifetime ago, she would've laughed...

"You gotta be careful, though," piped in Sue meaningfully, "I heard there's a lot of loose spirits wrecking havoc everywhere. They're increasing rapidly lately. You know what, with how vast the Astral World is, other souls had already built tribes and cults."

Kichi laughed. Then she realized she wasn't joking. "Tribes and cults? In the afterlife?"

"I know," Sue sighed, "and they're hard to track, too. Our schedule had gone hectic lately, and I never wanted to do community services again so badly!"

Kam, for the sake of Kichi, explained, "We're on the auxiliary department. Extraction, tracking, hunting. We're back-up teams for the bigger departments. That means we get to have odd sorts of job here and there."

There was a giggle. "You should join the agency too, Kichi!" said Sue, "you'd make a perfect addition! Though unfortunately, we can't seem to sense anything out of you... that probably meant you won't have any Mekushi!"

The last line struck Kichi like a metal bat on the head. Sue didn't have to rub it in... She ended up dolefully averting her eyes away from the posters. Even in the afterlife she couldn't have the privilege of being cool. The world is utterly unfair.

She ended up changing the topic. "So... Hiraku—"

Sue turned her head so fast it was a miracle it didn't come off. "Nope! Not with the formalities! You can just call me Sue, okay?"

Kichi audibly gasped. First name basis, that fast? That felt a bit too... miraculous. Then again, afterlife. Astral World. What's more convincing?

"Right... Sue." She mentally grimaced. "So uh, where are we heading actually?"

Right on cue, Sue came to a halt in front of a door. She spun around as though to emphasize where. "Of course, our office!" she declared, knocking at the door.

"Come in..." a rather shady voice called out from within.

The door creaked like how horror movies would deem it necessary, opening into a small, commons area. Everything was dark, if not for the light permeating from the hallway, and Kichi could barely make out the set of cushions surrounding a central table made of glass, a board plastered on the gray walls with article cut-outs, notes and incomprehensible figures connected with a red thread. Are they detectives or what?

Something shifted on a wooden desk from the farthest corner of the room. A silhouette of someone's back sitting on a chair. Is this person their other member?

Sue seemed unfazed by all this. "Hey, we brought company! She's new in Astral World and I figured we bring her in for a moment."

"What are you even doing with the lights off anyway?" Just when Kam was about to turn the lights on, the silhouette spoke out, "Don't turn it on yet!"

Kichi shuddered. Is this person some sort of a scary mythical spirit? An oversized fly? Or a... a beheaded ghost?!

He— at least it sounded like a he— let out a dark chuckle. It was rather husky and handsome. "A new face? Interesting. Well, I should introduce myself at least ya know?"

Kichi turned to Kam and Sue to check their reaction, only to see them both looking utterly embarrassed. Then she felt a gust of wind and the next thing she knew, she's squinting from the sudden light. How?! she started panicking mentally. But her attention was immediately focused on the person in front of her.

It was a young man, probably around her age, with ash brown hair and mischievous green eyes. He wore a maroon coat over a white shirt, and a flowy red scarf draping to his shoulders and dangling down behind him. He sat in a swivel chair, one leg propped in a crossed position and looked about to fall.

Then he started spinning in slow circles. "Sup, pretty girl." He spinned. "You must've been scared, are you alright?" Spinning. "Welcome to the Association Of Ethereal Protection." Spinning and spinning. "Team TA92, Block 13." He's still spinning. "Name's Shinjou. Shinjou Kanwashite."

What.

Kichi gaped at him. He looked oddly familiar, but that wasn't the only reason. It wasn't like she fell in love— it was rather because of... Shiny eyes, messy hair and a scarf, it's an anime protagonist!

Ah indeed. Flashy looks and a get-up that looked like it's about to stir a harem in just the first episode. Kichi's eyes were as wide as saucers, her fascination on this random spinning guy rising in an alarming rate. Plus, the fact that he opened the light in just a split second... What a protagonist material!

From beside her, Sue looked beyond embarrassed. While Kam just looked at him in disappointment.

Shinjou continued to spin. "Heh. Surprised how I turned on the lights?" He rolled back and spinned faster. "Of course you we—"

Sue couldn't take it anymore, she charged and pulled him down before he could say another word. Shinjou let out a yelp of surprise, his scarf tangling on the swivel chair. "Ow! What's your deal?!" he blasted, husky voice now abandoned.

"The fact that you slacked off and now flirting with a newbie!"

"I was just introducing myself! how could I not when I spent two hours trying to come up a decent script?!"

And the both of them started cat-fighting.

Kichi turned to Kam wordlessly. With a sigh, Kam mustered another of his stiff smile for her. "Sorry you had to see that."

From the nearest desk, Kam grabbed a magazine, rolled it appropriately, then began smacking the ever loving spirits of both Sue and Shinjou.

"Perhaps you've both forgotten how to set a proper example towards our visitor," he said calmly, still wearing that menacing passive aggressive smile, "shall I teach you?"

"I—I'm sorry!"

"It was Sue!"

Another smack.

Kichi stood rigidly and awkwardly by the door.

A few moments passed as Sue and Shinjou pretended to hug each other out, with Shinjou lowly murmuring, "Next time" to Sue's ear and Sue replying, "I'll have your butt the second Kam turns around."

Shinjou turned to Kichi, embarrassing display completely forgotten. "Oh right, we should take you out for a tour—"

"We already did," interjected a grinning Sue, "too late."

In despair, Shinjou slowly descended into the floor, hugging his knees miserably. Kam regarded his pity party in an undescribable expression, before eventually sighing. "Although there's still some places we haven't gone to... We could maybe go there?" he offered.

Instantly, and as Kichi almost shrieked in surprise, Shinjou sprang to his feet. "Then let's get going!"

Kichi could only look at him confusedly, then turn her gaze back to Sue and Kam, both who just shrugged.

Great. First, a ditzy fish girl who continuously flagged Kichi's non-existent membership right for a Mekushi, a seemingly gentle guy with an underlying devil behind an all-too sweet smile, and now a semi-narcissistic slacker that changes mood by the next second.

She briefly wondered why on Purgatory the people here seemed so insane...

・・・━━━ ⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━・・・

The four of them went outside the agency to stroll around what seemed like a bazaar district. Night lamps brought a warm atmosphere in the nightly scene, alongside the festives of triangular parchments depicting odd symbols in black calligraphy. Countless stalls hanged signs with unique patterns over their stores as they offered different trinkets to any willing buyers, some even sold questionable foodstuff, but most of it were of normal earth quality like dango and taiyaki.

Kichi felt her heart constrict at the sight. it was so lovely, nothing she had seen before... Well, that's considering I don't go out during festivals that often...

She turned towards her escorts who seemed too distracted to continue on their astral lessons; Sue pointing over the gaming stalls with cute kitsune plushies, while Kamuke contemplated over picking a flavor on one of the food stores (do spirits still eat?), and Shinjou... where is Shinjou?

"Boo!"

Kichi jumped back immediately, bumping into a spirit with a fluffy tail. She murmured an apology before frantically running back and sending a glare at the guy who almost killed her the second time. Her admiration level for him went down considerably.

Shinjou raised his hands. "Sorryyyy!" he said, though his grin looked anything but apologetic, "My pretty face must've been too much for you too handle."

Her eyes averting at the mere mention, Kichi awkwardly let out a laugh. "It's... fine." No it's not fine at all! You bipolar guy!

"Alright-y, since I never had the opportunity before, lemme properly introduce myself! I'm Shinjou Kanwashite. And though my previous display looked cool, my power's just simple! I have the ability to be fast in any possible way. Basically what you call... an errand boy." He placed his arms behind his head in a laidback pose, winking.

"Ohh," Kichi muttered. So that must've been where the gust of wind and blurry light came from earlier. Quite humble for a prideful guy, she thought judgmentally. Then she wondered why both Sue and Shinjou felt familiar. They haven't met yet, haven't they?

"Anywayyyy." Shinjou practically glided closer. "What's your name? I can't live another day without knowing—"

"Arinaki Kichi."

Besides said Arinaki Kichi stood Kamuke, who was carrying a package of kasutera— a loaf of sugary honey bread. He handed it over to them with a smile, though Kichi could still see how forced it is. "Don't prod, Shinjou, it's sensitive."

"Mhm mhm... Sugar... Anyway, interesting name!" complimented Shinjou as he eagerly reached for the kasutera. Sue ran to them, now with a dog keychain and a satisfied smile.

Kichi took this opportunity to ask a question that's been bugging her for a while now. "Do spirits still eat...?" she asked, eyeing the package on Shinjou's hands.

"Oh, spirits doesn't necessarily have to eat," Sue was the one to answer, "we're all just a piece of consciousness from our physical bodies after all. But food helps to replenish a soul's energy a little."

"It moreso acts to stimulate our taste bud though," added Shinjou, already eating a slice. "Also! You know this reminds me back in my days..." He began narrating a tale no one asked for.

While Kam remained impassive as he continued sauntering further, Sue gestured for Kichi to catch on before gradually stirring another argument with Shinjou. Something to do with germs and saliva.

Kichi remained at their back, uninterested with keeping up in on their conversations. Strangely enough, even though the three of them were welcoming and friendly, she couldn't help feeling so left out. She looked all around her. So many varieties of spirits and human souls, enjoying the festivities. The place was crowded even.

So why was she still feeling so lonely?

She shook her head. Maybe it's because she was in an entirely different world that she felt so small, though even in her own world she never belonged in anything. Besides, she didn't have to be close with anyone. She never really should, after all that happened to those who did...

Kichi sadly stared at Sue, Kam and Shinjou's back. Weird as they were, she wanted to be friends with them too, but... perhaps it's for the best.

She felt someone pulling her from behind. It certainly didn't feel like someone's clothes getting stuck on her hair unintentionally, as what she felt next was being forcefully dragged backwards and someone covering her mouth—

"M—Mmphh....!" She desperately reached for her companions, but lost sight of them from the crowd. Passersby didn't even look at her, as though she wasn't there at all. Was she still even here? Or were they just ignoring her? No no no, what's happening?!

She frantically fought her mysterious, silent assailant, but her efforts proved futile once she inhaled a greeny cloud of dust appearing before her and she started feeling so, so exhausted.

The last coherent strings of thoughts she could ever manage was of how she was never lucky even after death. That and how the night sky was a magnificent violet...